Ricky Gervis plans extension on his £3M mansion

David Brent’s NEW Office: Ricky Gervis plans extension on his £3million rural mansion to add extra bedroom to riverside retreat

• Ricky Gervais wants to extend  first floor of his rural retreat to add third bedroom
• The 62-year-old applied to the council for the ‘modest’ side extension this week

Ricky Gervais is splashing out on an extension to his £3million riverside mansion – complete with an office.

The award-winning comedian and actor, 62, who played paper manufacturing boss David Brent in The Office, wants to extend the first floor of his rural retreat to add a third bedroom.

But the property in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, lies in a designated Green Belt area where extensions face tougher planning laws, and is also within a flood zone.

The After Life star and best-selling novelist partner Jane Fallon applied to the local council for planning permission for the ‘modest’ side extension this week.

There have been no objections from neighbours so far but, as part of the proposed development, the couple have vowed to remove an existing side window to avoid overlooking next door.

The property in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, lies in a designated Green Belt area where extensions face tougher planning laws, and is also within a flood zone. Pictured: The propertly narrowly escaping being flooded earlier this year

The After Life star and best-selling novelist partner Jane Fallon applied to the local council for planning permission for the ‘modest’ side extension this week

Ricky Gervais and his partner Jane Fallon at the National Television Awards in October last year

The award-winning comedian and actor, 62, who played paper manufacturing boss David Brent in The Office, wants to extend the first floor of his rural retreat to add a third bedroom

Gervais’s home already boasts a ground floor snug, drawing room, conservatory, garage and office.

The first floor has two bedrooms with his and hers dressing areas but he now wants to add a third bedroom.

READ MORE: Welcome to The Office! Ricky Gervais poses in his underpants as he makes himself at home in his new £10.8 million mansion 

In a letter to the council, his architect Lewis Hillsdon said: ‘The objective of this proposal is to extend over the existing garage to provide additional bedroom accommodation for the dwelling.

‘The extension is subservient to the existing with proposed walls stepped back from the face of the existing building and proposed eaves and ridge lines lower than the existing.

‘The proposed extension would give rise to a modest increase in the floor area and volume of the dwelling (less than 15% in both instances), and therefore, in overall size terms, it is reasonable to assess that the extension would not comprise a disproportionate addition in the Green Belt.’

Under planning laws, extensions and alterations to buildings in a Green Belt area are deemed appropriate if they do not result in ‘disproportionate’ additions over and above the size of the original building.

But limited infilling and extensions to existing buildings are ‘potentially’ acceptable.

The agent added: ‘The proposed extension would be clearly subservient in scale to the core two storey part of the building and would have a design, form and materials in keeping with the existing.

The property has its own tennis court- although Gervais previously revealed he hasn’t had a chance to make the most of it

Gervais’s home already boasts a ground floor snug, drawing room, conservatory, garage and office. The first floor has two bedrooms with his and hers dressing areas but he now wants to add a third bedroom

‘The proposed extension would therefore assimilate comfortable with its context and the varied rhythm of development along the road and would not result in harm to the site or its attractive River Thames setting.

‘The existing dwelling has a window at the first floor on the eastern elevation. Due to the proximity to the boundary this has the potential to provide overlooking into the neighbouring property.

‘As part of the proposal, this window will be removed and no other windows will be added to this eastern elevation which eliminates the potential for overlooking and improves on the current situation.

‘The extensions and alterations proposed would enhance the character and appearance of the existing dwelling and would not result in any harm to the visual amenities of the surrounding area or to the residential amenities of neighbouring properties.’

Gervais, currently on his Armageddon comedy tour, has a property portfolio worth more than £16million including two UK homes, two apartments on New York’s Upper East Side which he bought for £1.1million in 2008 and £2.5million in 2011.

He previously sparked a row with neighbours at his former £7.7million Hampstead home after digging out the basement to add an underground gym and indoor pool.

He then bought a £10.8million, eight-bedroom home nearby complete with a pool, outdoor badminton court and summer house.

Officials at Windsor and Maidenhead Council are expected to make a decision on Gervais’ bedroom extension in August.

It is his first planning application for his Marlow home since he bought the pad in 2014, and the first since 1992 when a previous owner was given the go-ahead for an entrance porch.

Other famous residents who live nearby include fellow comedian Russell Brand who bought a £3.3million, six-bedroom riverside home in Henley-on-Thames just two months before Gervais bought his Marlow home.

Mr Gervais has been approached for comment.

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